Astra TD(WHAT WERE WE THINKING!)

np · Post by np » 09 Jan 2006, 22:16

After months of telling my wife that the ZX TD WAS the car for her,& the fact that she then wanted a ZX TD

,she sees a Astra TD & falls in love with it

.Ok,so its got the toys,P/S,E/W,C/L etc,but shes only had it a week,& so far its had a new battery,new glow plugs & a service.It would`nt start,so she flatten`d the battery trying.KILLED IT!

New battery & glowplugs,got it going in the end.It was as if all the fuel was draining out of the pipes,hence it needed priming.No hand primer like the good old XUD`s.It has to be cranked over & over.Anyway,serviced it yesterday,& the fuel filter was very loose,no effort at all to remove.Tightend the new one very tight indeed

,no problems since.
The 1.7 td goes ok,but it aint no XUD TD!
This is one time where i`ve been saying to my self(& my darling wife)IF ONLY WE GOT A CITROEN!

ralph · Post by **ralph** » 10 Jan 2006, 10:05

It'll probably convert you, np. Nice cars, them Vectras

Kowalski · Post by **Kowalski** » 10 Jan 2006, 10:15

ralph wrote:It'll probably convert you, np. Nice cars, them Vectras

Wash your mouth out now!

Xantias have a certain style and character that you just don't get on a Vectra and they (Vectras) have no exclusivity because there are so many of them about. Don't forget that a Cavalier isn't a very good BX substitute either!

Sturdybloke · Post by **Sturdybloke** » 10 Jan 2006, 15:13

Is it fitted with the GM engine or the Isuzu unit?

np · Post by np » 10 Jan 2006, 17:32

Isuzu engine Sturdybloke.Its got 148k on it,but service history to 130k,with a cambelt change.Body work is good,& the interior,seats,steering wheel etc certainly dont look like its done 148k.
Its easy to work on/service.The glow plugs took 10 mins all in to change.Unlike my Xantia

,although i can do them in about 40 mins now,inc the plug behind the fuel pump.
It will do her for a while.
I was just looking foward to getting another Citroen to work on,& post more problems on here

.I used to be a Vauxhall man before i found the delights of Xantia ownership,so know them pretty well.

Sturdybloke · Post by **Sturdybloke** » 10 Jan 2006, 19:02

Thats a good thing in its favour. The old GM unit is a awfull old slug (even in turbo form) made out of pig iron and spit

(and i know because I drove a cav with one in it about 9 years ago and I aint ever going to forget that car

) . Sounds like you have bought a good one as on the whole, a Astra with S/hist is a good buy - reliable, lots about, good dealer backup and cheap spares if and when it goes wrong - Anthony.

Paul Mi16 · Post by **Paul Mi16** » 10 Jan 2006, 20:29

We have an Astra cdti that has never been any trouble ever, more than can be said of the 306.

np · Post by np » 10 Jan 2006, 20:55

Fingers crossed its a good `un

..She reports that is now starting ok in the mornings & evenings,so maybe the loose ish fuel fiter was leting in a bit of air.Got the rest of the week off now(

8) after working 12hr days,7 days a week inc Xmas & n/year

)so off to scrapy tomorrow to see what bits they have.IE std stereo to replace nasty old K/Wood,some clear front indicators(the car is white & looks

with orange ones),1 Vxh w/trim,& anything else that takes my fancy

,if you know what i mean.
Will see what Xantia`s they have there too.No VSX`s though i expect.

Stinkwheel · Post by **Stinkwheel** » 10 Jan 2006, 21:52

could be worse, could be a ford.

np · Post by np » 10 Jan 2006, 22:35

Stinkwheel wrote:could be worse, could be a ford.

Well it WAS worse,& the Ford is now on Ebay

Stinkwheel · Post by **Stinkwheel** » 10 Jan 2006, 22:42

oh dear god, get help, fords and vauxhals.

Quick, get this man some chevrons.

I think you should replace the astra with a zx asap.

ACTIVE8 · Post by **ACTIVE8** » 16 Jan 2006, 10:24

Kowalski wrote:
ralph wrote:It'll probably convert you, np. Nice cars, them Vectras
Wash your mouth out now!

Xantias have a certain style and character that you just don't get on a Vectra and they (Vectras) have no exclusivity because there are so many of them about. Don't forget that a Cavalier isn't a very good BX substitute either!

Yes, true Xantias are nice cars.

Vectras are not.

np · Post by np » 16 Jan 2006, 20:50

I have 2 work friends with Vectras.1 a 120cdti,the other a 150cdti.While they no doubt have a good engine,the cars themselfs just "feel" like any other car.A bit bland.The Xantia feels alot nicer inside,& i think the build quality in mine is better than their newer cars.
We took the Astra to London this w/end.I drove there & back.While it was a vast improvement on the Fiesta(which is doing very well on Ebay

),i really missed the comfort & cruising ability of my Xantia.Even though i thought the spheres were tired after 4 yrs/55k miles,getting back into the Xant from the Astra i realise it still floats & wafts along.

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